Ambrose - Houston-Packer Collection BX5200 .A49 1674

!Looking unto jjefus. ~ the Apo!He calls it an holy reven~c. 6. She .kiffed hi< feet; in token of her , Cor. 7· 1!• h · e and new love and new affecbon:;; her kiifes !nd formerly been to wan– new CbOICn'o·" 0Ie beflows ;hemon the feet of Cluifl. 7· She annointed them IVith ointtons, ut ff d d · l mem; whic1J expreffion was fo great an exrafie of love, and forrow, an a oration, t 1ar to anoint the feet of the greateft Monarch was long ugknown, and m aU the pomps of Roman prodigality it was never ufed nl! Otho. taught It Nero . . V:hen Stmon obferved this(inner fo bufie in the expreffes of her Religion, he.thought wtrhm !umfdf that Chnft was no Prophet, that he did not know her. to be a h?~ec·; for although.the Jews Religion did permit harlots to live, and to ~nJOY the prtvtledges of the Nation, fave that their oblations were r~fufed, yet the Phartfees who pretended to a greater degree of fancrity than others, would not admit them. to civil ufa~es. or to rhe benefits of ?rdinary fociety. and henceSimon made an obJectton wtthm htmfelf, whtch Jefus knowing ·( for he und~rftood his thoughts as well as words) firfl he makes her apology, and then hts own ; the fcope giving us to undedland tlm Chrifl: was not ~f the fame fu~rrci!ioufnds with rhe Phaiifees, bur that repenting finners fhJuld be welcome unto htm, and tius welcome he publiflieth firfl to Simon, H er ji1s 1vhich arem4ny are forgiven; and then to Vcr. 47· thewoman, Thy fins are forzivm thee, thy faith bath favedth,., goinptace. ~~~.;~: I have been long in rhe proof: bur a word of ufe, and I have done. What? is Chrifl Vfo. moll willing to recetve finners? 0 then be exhorted I who would not come ro Jefus - Chrill? n~ethinks now all finners of all forts flwuld fay, thou~h I have been a drunkard, a fweuer, an unclean perfon, yet now I hear Chrift is willing to receive finners, and therefore I will go to Jefus Chrill. This is my exhortation, 0 come u'to Chrift, rome wnto Chrift! behold here in the Name of the Lord I .fland, and make invitation to roor (inners; 0 will ye nor come? bow wt!l yon anfwer 1t atthe great day, when it fl1all be faid, rhe Lord Jefus made a tender and offer of mercy ro you, and you would nor accept of it/ Oh come to Chrifl:, and believe on Chrift; as Cl1rifl is willing to receive you, [() be you willing to give up your fouls to him; the motives to this I may hy down in rhefe particulars.- -- · r. The Do~rine of Chrift, Come unto mt,--andhim thatcomethunto me 1will in na .vifecajfout, All the Argtimenrsof God 1nd Chrif't, of which you have he>rd, the pra– crife of Chrift whiles he was upon earth, and the heart of Chrifl now in Heaven ; lay thefe together, and apply them ro your own fouls, oh wbar work will tbey, make! 2. The calls of God, and Chrill; as they arefrequenr in Scriptures; confider that · Text, Ho <_very one that thirft<, co-ne ye to th'e waters! Ifa. 55· I. [Ho J he begins pro– clamation-wife; we ufually fay, vocations, interjections fpcak very affectionate motion towards rhe diflreffed ; certainly Chri!ls love is a very affectionate love, he !ayes his mouth ro the ears of thofe that are fpiritUl\ly deaf, and cries aloud, Ho [every one J Chrifl iuvites all: As many M ye !h•ll find, bid them to the marriage, Matth. 22.9. as the Heavens are general in their influence, not one grafs on the ground bur 'tisbedewed; fo are Chrifts invitations to his feafl:, nor' one man in all the world but he is invited; Ho every onethat thirjfeth J fo the Apoflle, Let him that i< athirft cone, and whofoever will, let him tak§ the wam of life fmiy. Revel. 22. 17. A thirfl, and a will is one and the fame, it is your will thlt makes up the match; if you will but fit down at Gods Table, if you will but have the honey-comb with the honey, if you will but drink his wine with his milk, if you will drink, yea drink abundantly of the flaggons of the ne.v wine of his Ktngdom, why then come, Come ye to the w•ters; cowe 11nto me and drink., Chrifls armes are fpread abroad to receive•linners; he calls and knocks· and calls and waits . andcal1s and befeeches; every ~ord here hath fo much fweetnefs'and dearnefs in it, a; 1t plamly fpeaks. him free and willing to receive you, if you will but come. . 3. The wootngs of Chrlfl to gain your hearts; confider him bowing the Heavens, and comtng dov:n, and hying afide his robes of M1jefty, and putting on your filthy garments ; oonftder him going about from place to place , on no other errano!, but to gam your beans, and wmyour fouls; and who e;er fpakc fuch effectual words as Chri!l: fpake.when he was upon the earth? who ever gav.e fuch precious jewels to a Bride, as Chntr ·gave to Ius Spoufe? who ever pur on fuch apparel, as Chrift did when he wooed IllS Church? the Prophet wonders at it, Who u thH- chat come:h from Edom, with dyed garments from Boz.yah? ~Whereforeart tho~t ndin thine apparel, a•d thygarments lik.; lfa 63.,,,, h,, th>t tr<adeth m the wme fat? Ifa. 63. I, 2. Who ever g1ve fuch 1 love-token as Clmft gave when he laiddo~n hi> life? Oh confider him living, or dying, and fay,' neD d - ver

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