The safety of appearing at the day of judgement, in the righteousness of Christ

Answer, 1. When God says whoever will; he does not limit the call to them that will, the offer is general, and therefore is made unto them that will not, as well as unto them that will: men that are unwilling ought to come, mens duty does not depend upon their willingness to do it: God commands those that are unwilling: the generality of the Jews were not willing to come to Christ: yet God required them to come, Joh. 9.29. this is the work of God that ye believe on him, whom he hath sent: God makes conditional promises unto such, and will punish such men for their not coming unto Christ: it will be a poor excuse at the last day for men to say they were not willing, out of their own mouth God will condemn them. 2, When God says whosoever will: he does not require any antecedent willingness before their coming: the meaning is not that men must first find themselves willing, and so come to Christ: men must not wait for a willing spirit, as a ground of encouragement to come to Christ, God does not require that men should be first willing and then come: it is a concomitant willingness only that God does require not an antecedent: for indeed no man is indeed truly willing to believe in Christ, until he does so. 3. The meaning of it is, that there is an universal liberty given to men to come to Christ: he will bestow the blessing on none but those that will: and ⟨p. 306⟩upon any one that will, the meaning is that he will reject no man that will come, upon any defect whatever, upon any account that may be thought of: whatever their outward condition be, whatever hearts they have, whatever their former life have been, whatever weakness there be in their faith; it is an universal offer without an exception.

Answer, 1. When God says whoever will; he does not limit the call to them that will, the offer is general, and therefore is made unto them that will not, as well as unto them that will: men that are unwilling ought to come, mens duty does not depend upon their willingness to do it: God commands those that are unwilling: the generality of the Jews were not willing to come to Christ: yet God required them to come, Joh. 9.29. this is the work of God that ye believe on him, whom he hath sent: God makes conditional promises unto such, and will punish such men for their not coming unto Christ: it will be a poor excuse at the last day for men to say they were not willing, out of their own mouth God will conde mn them. 2, When God says whosoever will: he does not require any antecedent willingness before their coming: the meaning is not that men must first find themselves willing, and so come to Christ: men must not wait for a willing spirit, as a ground of encouragement to come to Christ, God does not require that men should be first willing and then come: it is a concomitant willingness only that God does require not an antecedent: for indeed no man is indeed truly willing to believe in Christ, until he does so. 3. The meaning of it is, that there is an universal liberty given to men to come to Christ: he will bestow the blessing on none but those that will: and