232 Evangelical Repentance. Appge.I on Chrifi alone. Beloved ! we are veryunwilling to come untoany duty ; and when we havedone, we are then as apt to reft upon it, as ever we were unwilling to come unto it. Eut what's thereafon that men are fo apt to reft upon their duties, but becaufe there are thefe fecret thoughts,that they come to Chrifi, before he does come to them. Let the heart be poffeft with this truth, ThatJefus Chrift, and the Kingdom ofHeaven, andoffree-grace, does approach un- to us, and come neer to us, before we draw neer to it. And then he will not reit fo much upon what he is, doth, or fuffereth. Aman in this cafe is like unto a Silk-wortne ; you know how 'cis with that worme : it makes a fineweb, a finework ; and when it hath done, it dies in it, after- ward it eats a hole through the work, and it comes out with wings, a quite other creature than it went into it. So it is with a poor Chriflian : he makes a fine workof du- ty, and then he dies in it; but through the manifeftations of Gods freegrace, he does, as it were, eat a hole through all, andhecomes out with wings flying away from hisdu- ties, not fo as to neglefi the performance ofthem, but fo, as not to telt upon them : fiyes away from (in regard, of reftingupon any) duty ; and only upon this ground, be- ca.ufe (faies he) God did draw neer tome, grace did draw neer to me, mercy did draw neer to me, before ever I drew neer to it : and thereforewhy ftould I reit upon any duty, perfume it I will, but through grace I will not reit upon it. By way of Applicapion;,Let us I pray confiderwith our felves, whether God bath dealt thus by our fouls or no : Path the Kingdom of Heaven approch't, and drawn neer unto us, before we drewneer to it ? ifnot,truiy (for ought that I know) we are yet under the Law : and all our mour- flings, and waikings Heaven-ward,theyare but Legal : If God loveyou indred,Ere {hews kindnefs, andniercy to you, before you do come to hint. 'Tis with Gods-darlings , a 'tis with the worlds-dar- ling s%
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