Ver. 20. the 17th Chapter of St. J O HN. 97 before he giveth theft] eafe and refrefhment in Chrift. At the firft Gofpel -Serm on preached after the pouring forth of the Spirit ; As 2, 37. They were pricked in their Hearts. ChriI 's Conimiffion was to preach the Gofpel to the poor and broken;hea rted and bruifed. Luke 4. i8. The Spirit of the Lord was upon me, becaufe the Lord bath anointed me to preach the Gofpel to the Poor, he hath fen: me to 'heal the broken- hearte d, to preach Deliverance to the Captives, the recovering of Sight to the Blind, to fit at liberty them that are bruited : This is the Road -way to Chrift. And all our Addrefl:;s to God begin too thence. Man is carelefs ; Mat. 22. 5. estsuNriouvres, they made light of it : and proud, Rom. to. 3. isx i/verayscuv; they have not fabmitted themfelves to the Righteoufnefs of God. The Ifraelites were not weary of Egypt, till they were filled with Anguifh. Ado - nijah, when he found himfelf guilty of Death, he laid hold on the Har ns of the Astar. The Prodigal never thought of returning, till he began to be in want, ant to be foundly pinched. Therefore till there be a due fence and convi &ion of Conference, it is not Faith, but carnal Security. In fhort, we can never be truly defirous of Grace, we cannot prize it, we do not run for refuge, Heb. 6. x8. We are not Garnett for a De- liverance, till there be force filch Work. There are two Things keep the Confcience quiet without Chrift ; Peace, and Self; Carnal- fecurity, and Self fufliciency. (t.) It is hard to wean Men from the PleaCures of Senfe, and to make them ferious in the Matters of their Peace ; before Chrift and they be brought together, they and themfelves mull be brought together : This God feeketh to do by outward Afllidions, that he may take themin their Month, as the Ram was caught in the Briars. In Aflfidi- ons Men bethink themfelves : s Kings 8.47. F they All bethink themfelves in the Land whither they are carried Captives, &c. It makes them to return upon themfelves, how it is between God and them. If Af liaion worketh not, he joineth the Word, it is a Glaf wherein we fee our natural Face, James I. at. God fheweth them what loath - fome Creatures they are, how liable to Wrath. Or, if not, by the Power of his Spi- rit upon their Confciences, their Reins may chaften them, they cannot wake in the Night, or be folitary in the Day, but their Hearts are upon them ; Co great a Matter is it to bring Men to be ferious. (2.) Self. When the Prodigal began to be in want, he joined himfelf to a Man of that Country, Lúke 15. 15. We have flight Promifes and Refolutions, and all to elude the prefent Conviftion 5 long it is e're the proud Heart of Man is gained to take Chrift upon God's Terms. Convinced Men are brought in, faying, What (ball I do ? Ads 9.6. Then let God write down what Articles he pleafeth, they are willing to fubferibe and yield to any Terms; as foftned Pewter, let it be never fo bowed and battered, is receptive of any Shape and Form. This is the Implicite Ad, or that which is requi- red in Believing, that a Man thould be a loft undone Creature in himfelf, ready to do what God will have him. 2. The Explicite Ads, when a Soul thus humbled calls it felf upon Chrift for Grace, Mercy, and Salvation. This may be explained with refpe& to the two great Ordinan- ces, i. e. the Word, and Prayer ; which are (as it were) a Spiritual Dialogue between God and the Soul. In the Word God fpeaketh to us, in Prayer we fpeak to God : God offereth Chrift to us in the Word, and we prefent him to God in Prayer.. So that the Aas of Faith are, to accept of Chrift as offered, and then to make ufe of him in our Communion with God; and by this thall you know whether you do believe in him. ( t.) Accepting Chrift in the Word. Faith is expreffed by receiving him. John s. 12. To as many as received him, to themgave he Power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe in his Name. Receiving is a relative word, and prefuppofeth God's Offer. Art thou willing to take Chrift upon thefe terms? Yes, faith the Soul, with all my Heart, I accept him as a Sanctifier, as a Saviour, and I can venture all in his hands. Then you anfwer God's Quefti'on. How often doth God lay forth the Excellencies of Chrift , and none regard him ? but a poor hunger - bitten Confcience prizeth him, re, ceiveth him with all his heart, and entertaineth him in the Soul with all Refpea and Reverence. This is to take Chrill, to accept him as Lord and Saviour upon God's Of- fer. As when Ifaac was offered to Rebekah, Labor and Bethuel anfwered, faying, The thing proceedeth from the Lord, we cannot fpeak unto thee goad or bad, Gen. 24. 50. they con - fented to rake him, becaufe they faw God in it. So they fee God tendering Chrift in theWord, and they are willing to take himttpon his own Conditions. <2.) By making ufe of him in Prayer. The great Life of Chrilt is, that we may come to God by him : Heb. 7. 25. Wherefore he is able to fave unto the uttermofi, all that PPPP come
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