276 Comforts to theft that hunger. the time of the law, upon legal obedLnc: ,but Jefas Cbrill and his righteoufnefs was never given to any foule, but freely upon rneere Free- grace, nothing but Free -grace bath given him, He is the gift of God :- And together with the freedome there is aninvitation to foules to come and take ic; Thou that art thirfling after this righteoufnefs; confider of that Scripture in the 22 kevé: 17. The Spirit and the bride fay, come, and let him that heareth, fay come, and let him that is a thirft come, and whofoever will,let him take of the water of life freely.Thou thirft- eit after this righteoufnefs, as the water of life, that would be life to thy foule ; now mark, what invitation is here, The Spi- rit,'Ihe Bride, that is, TheChurc , they fay, come, and let him that heareth fay come, and he that is et thirft come : Here's four times in one verfe, Come, and whofoe 'er will, let him take of the water of life freely. There's nothing more free then this water of life, God fells it not to any, but whofoever he gives it to, he gives it freely, and now is this the way of God in the dif- penfing of this great mercy, that whofoever hath had it,òr ever flail have it, it mutt be given freely to them, that any former unrighteoufnefs shall be no hindrance,whatfoever unrighteouf- nefs there hash been before, that's no hindrance, for if it were, then it were not given freely : There's no unworthiness then that can hinder : and if fo, why may not I have my portion in it as well as another; why may not I be bleíled by ir,as well as any : It's true, I am vile, I am an unrighteous wretch, I am unworthy, but the Lord gives this water of life freely, I fa: ` q g. Fourthly, I'le adde a fourth confideration for thy farther comfort, that there's nothing can give any right to any foule to apply the righteoufnefs of Jefas Chrift, but meerly this free offer, and the foules beleeving, the foules calling it felfe, upon it :There's nothing before that that gives any right to this righteoufnefs ofChrilt. You will fay, I could apply it, and beleeve it, and call nay felfe upon it, but that I feare I have no right in it : Now this is as certaine a.truth as any we have in the Gofpel, that there is npthinc gives any foule a right to Jefus Chrift bit beleeving an
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