Section 2

I will conclude with a second use, of encouragement to burdened souls to put their trust in Christ for salvation. To all such as are not careless and negligent, but do make seeking an interest in Christ their main business, being sensible in some measure of their necessity of an interest in Christ, being afraid of the wrath to come; to such what has been said on this subject holds forth great matter of encouragement, to come and venture their souls on the Lord Jesus Christ: and as motives proper to excite you so to do, let me lead you to consider two things in particular.

1. The completeness of the purchase which has been made. As you have heard, this work of purchasing salvation was wholly finished during the time of Christ's humiliation. When Christ rose from the dead, and was exalted from that abasement to which he submitted for our salvation, the purchase of eternal life was completely made, so that there was no need of anything more to be done in order to it. But now the servants were sent forth with the message which we have account of in Matthew 22:4. "Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage." Therefore all things being ready, are your sins many and great? Here is enough done by Christ to procure their pardon. There is no need of any righteousness of yours to obtain your pardon and justification: no, you may come freely, without money and without price. Since therefore there is such a free and gracious invitation given you, come; come naked as you are; come as a poor condemned criminal; come and cast yourself down at Christ's feet, as one justly condemned, and utterly helpless in yourself. Here is a complete salvation wrought out by Christ, and through him offered to you. Come, therefore, accept of it, and be saved.

2. For Christ to reject one that thus comes to him, would be to frustrate all those great things which you have heard that God brought to pass from the fall of man to the incarnation of Christ. It would also frustrate all that Christ did and suffered while on earth; indeed, it would frustrate the incarnation of Christ itself, and all the great things done in preparation for his incarnation; for all these things were for that end, that those might be saved who should come to Christ. Therefore you may be sure Christ will not be reluctant in saving those who come to him, and trust in him: for he has no desire to frustrate himself in his own work; it cost him too dear for that. Neither will God the Father refuse you; for he has no desire to frustrate himself in all that he did for so many hundreds and thousands of years, to prepare the way for the salvation of sinners by Christ. Come, therefore, listen to the sweet and earnest calls of Christ to your soul. Do as he invites, and as he commands you, Matthew 11:28-30. "Come unto me, all you that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

I will close with a second application — a word of encouragement to burdened souls to place their trust in Christ for salvation. To all who are not careless or indifferent, but who have made seeking an interest in Christ their chief concern — those who feel in some measure their need of Him, and who are afraid of the wrath to come — what has been said holds out great encouragement to come and commit their souls to the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me point you to two things in particular that should move you to do so.

1. The purchase that has been made is complete. As you have heard, the work of purchasing salvation was entirely finished during the time of Christ's humiliation. When Christ rose from the dead and was exalted from the lowly state He had taken on for our salvation, the purchase of eternal life was wholly made — nothing more needed to be done. Now the servants have been sent out with the message we read about in Matthew 22:4: 'Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.' Since all things are ready — are your sins many and great? Here is more than enough accomplished by Christ to secure their pardon. You do not need any righteousness of your own to obtain pardon and justification. You may come freely, without money and without price. Since such a free and gracious invitation has been given to you, come — come just as you are, with nothing to offer; come as a poor condemned criminal; come and throw yourself at Christ's feet, as one who has been justly condemned and is utterly helpless. A complete salvation has been worked out by Christ and is offered to you through Him. Come — accept it, and be saved.

2. For Christ to reject someone who comes to Him like this would be to undo all the great things you have heard God accomplished from the fall of man to the incarnation of Christ. It would also undo everything Christ did and suffered while on earth — indeed, it would undo the incarnation itself and all the great things done in preparation for it. All of those things had one purpose: that those who come to Christ might be saved. You can therefore be certain that Christ will not be reluctant to save those who come to Him and trust in Him. He has no desire to frustrate His own work — it cost Him too much for that. Nor will God the Father turn you away, for He has no desire to frustrate the work He was engaged in for hundreds and thousands of years to prepare the way for the salvation of sinners through Christ. Come, then — listen to the tender and earnest calls of Christ to your soul. Do what He invites and commands in Matthew 11:28-30: 'Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.'