Sertn. 15. they could make any fhift without him, but the caufe if thou comeft is the mighty power of God to make thee unfainedly willing upon all the terms ; and thou art no lefs acceptable to God becaufe thou art con - flrained by grace upon the pinch of thy neceffity to come, Romal. 3 2. Hof. 5. flit. God puts thee to this pinch that he might hear of thee ; in that latter place it is as if God had faid, Well, I have called again and again, and ufed variety of means with this people, but all in vain; I will take another courfe, I will leave them, go to my place, hide my feif, that trouble, and horrour, and anguifh shall take hold on them, and what then ? Shall it be unfeafonable and too late to come ? No, then they will and fhtll Peek me early ; fee how well -come a fìiiner is in this cafe to Chrift. The prodigal he runs hie courfe, fpends all in riot and luxury, and-was reduced to utter extremity, and then he be- thinks himfelf of coming home. I will go, there be may manfaons in Luke gS, my Fathers houfe, and I perifh for grant of bread; being upon this knowledge of his Fathers fulnefs drawn and upon fenfe of his own lotnefs, driven he comes ; And what falutation do you think bis Fa- ther might give him ? What are you come indeed ? In good time ? You, that have all this while taken your fwinge in all wickednefs, as long as you could live, my houfe was not good enough for you ; and now, that you have laid me under the reproaclkof your leudnefs and fulfilling your lulls as long as you had a penny in your purfe, or a rag to your back : Do you now come to the ? There is no duty or afietii- on to me that fways you hither, but you are compelled by the extre- mity you have brought your felf to : Get you gone with a forrow, and never look me in the face more. Thus we would have thought, but it is quite otherwife , his Father, when he did but fay he would come, meets him afar off, falls on his neck kifies him, brings him home, provides the bell Roam, the belt Robe, the bell Kid all the belt, and there is great joy; His Father cloth not quefiion what draws, or what drives ; whether he comes out of compelling neceffity,or out ingenuity and dutiful affe &ion ; But he is come, that is enough. This my ton was dead, and is alive, mar loft, and is found; and there's all done that poflibly enaytetake him well -come ; apply it for you encou- ragement ro believe, and fertlement in your undoubted intereft by faith. T hough you feem to come late, and out of necefíîty , yet Gods thoughts are not your thoughts, yours may be thoughts of wrath &c. But Gods are of pity, love, acceptation upon your coming, Thus you fee your way is immediately to come and call your felves upon Chrift on the texas of the Gpfpel and your great trouble ¡ball be removed. B b b Make when inward and outward troubles meet ? 37
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