Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

Let not the terror of hell-fire put thee upon hardening thy heart more▪ as it may do, if thou entertain that wicked thought, viz. There is no hope, Jer ii. 25. which, perhaps, is more rife among the hearers of the gospel, than many are aware of. But there is hope for the worst of sinners▪ who will come unto Jesus Christ. If there are no good qualification in thee (as, certainly, there can be none in a natural, man, none in any man, but what are received from Christ in him) know, that he has not suspended thy welcome on any good qualifications: do thou take himself and his salvation, freely offered unto all, to whom the gospel comes. Whosoever w•ll, let him take of the water of life freely, Rev xxii 17. Him that cometh to me, I will in no ways cast out, John vi. 37. It is true, thou art a sinful creature, and canst not repent; thou art unholy, and canst •ot make thyself holy: nay, thou hast essayed to repent, to forsake sin, and to be holy but still missed of repentance, reformation, and holiness; and therefore, Thou sa•st, there is no hope. No, for I have loved strangers, and after them ⟨p. 336⟩will I go. Truly, no marvel, that the success has not answered thy expectation, since thou hast always began thy work amiss. But do thou, first of all, honour God, by believing the testimony he has given of his Son, namely, that eternal life is in him: and honour the Son of God by believing on him, that is, embracing and falling in with the free offer of Christ and of his salvation from sin and from wrath, made to thee in the gospel, trusting in him confidently for righteousness to thy justification, and also for sanctification; seeing of God he is made unto us both righteousness and sanctification. 1 Cor. i. 30. Then, if thou hadst as much credit to give to the word of God, as thou wouldst allow to the word of an honest man offering thee a gift, and saying, take it, and it is thine; thou mayest believe that God is thy God, Christ is thine, his salvation is thine, thy sins are pardoned, thou had strength in him for repentance and for holiness: for all these are made over to thee in the free offer of the gospel. Believing on the Son of God, thou art justified, the curse is removed. And while it lies upon thee, how is it possible, thou shouldst bring forth the fruits of holiness?