The poor doubting Christian drawn to Christ. Wherein the main hindrances, which keep men…

3. The third Rule. When the Promise is thus come home to thee, and thou seest the Sufficiency and Authority of it, then all thou hast to do is this; In the Stream of that Promise, be carried home to the Promise. The Prodigal, Luke 15. is said to be like a lost Sheep. (Mark this, for it concerns you, poor Creatures.) The poor Sheep is wandering up and down, now in the Mouth of the Lion, and then in the Briars, and sometimes in the Pit. The Text saith, He leaveth ninety nine to seek that; That is, in comparison of what care he expresseth to the lost Sheep; he leaveth a Man regenerate not carelessly, but he will not express so great Love as to a poor lost Man; And tho' thou canst not find the way ⟨p. 117⟩to Heaven, yet he will find it for thee; lie thou upon the Shoulders of JESUS CHRIST. When thou findest thy Heart feeble and weak and thy self unable to believe; then the LORD JESUS CHRIST brings THE SPIRIT of Grace, and that comes to seek, and JESUS CHRIST lays that Soul of thine upon his Shoulders, that is, upon the Riches of the Freeness of his Grace: Therefore let thy Heart be transported by the Power of that Grace, and by the Virtue of that Mercy which GOD hath made known to thee for thy everlasting good. When the Chariots are come, get up into them. The LORD JESUS CHRIST is gone up to Heaven, and hath sent these Chariots for thee; therefore get thee up, and say, "LORD, take me up with thee." When the Mariner hath Sea-room enough, he cares for no Man, if he can but observe the Channel; he looks not so much at his Oar, or any thing, so that he can but observe the Channel. This Channel is the full Tide of Promise; therefore lay thy self upon the Promise, and say, LORD, in the virtue of that Grace, and in the Power of that SPIRIT, carry me; and in the Riches of that Mercy of thine, LORD convey the Heart of this poor Sinner, and make me happy with thy self for ever.

3. The third Rule. When the Promise is thus come home to thee, and thou seest the Sufficiency and Authority of it, then all thou hast to do is this; In the Stream of that Promise, be carried home to the Promise. The Prodigal, Luke 15. is said to be like a lost Sheep. (Mark this, for it concerns you, poor Creatures.) The poor Sheep is wandering up and down, now in the Mouth of the Lion, and then in the Briars, and sometimes in the Pit. The Text saith, He leaveth ninety nine to seek that; That is, in comparison of what care he expresseth to the lost Sheep; he leaveth a Man regenerate not carelesly, but he will not express so great Love as to a poor lost Man; And tho' thou canst not find the way