John 6:37 — And Him That Comes to Me, I Will in No Wise Cast Out

John 6:37. —And him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.

In this chapter we have the sacred story of Christ's feeding five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes, together with the consequents of that miracle. One effect of it was, that many followed Christ, hoping that he would have fed them again in a way extraordinary. The Lord Christ did reprehend them for their vanity, in desiring to live an idle life, and then hoping that they should be fed by miracle. He also took [illegible] to exhort them to labor after meat for their souls: he does therefore set forth the excellency of spiritual bread, shewing how much it does transcend the Manna which the children of Israel lived upon in the Wilderness; thereupon the Jews desired that they might always feed upon that bread (ver. 34). Then said they to him, Lord evermore give us this bread. It is evident that they had carnal imaginations in their minds still, dreaming of bread for their bodies, which might cause them to live a long time in this world. Therefore in answer to that request of theirs, the Lord Jesus Christ does both inform and reprove them.

1. He informs them, what that bread of life which he spake of, is, and what it is to eat thereof, namely, that he himself is that bread, and that to believe on him, is to eat thereof (ver. 35).

2. He reproveth them for their unbelief (ver. 36). But I say to you, that you also have seen me and believe not. They had seen Christ with bodily eyes, and they had seen his miracles too, and yet they had not seen him with an eye of faith; they did not close with him as the true Messiah, as the Son of God, and the Savior of the world.

In this verse there are two things asserted,

1. The reason why some that have the outward means of faith, yet never believe. It is because they are not by the Father given to Christ. All such shall first or last believe on him. But if men be not given to Christ, let them hear never such sermons preached, no, though never such miracles should be wrought before their eyes, they will not believe.

2. Another thing asserted in this verse, is, the great benefit which does follow upon coming to Christ as in the words before us to insist on; the meaning of which may be spoken to under the [illegible] from them, which is,

Doct. That if any man, whoever he be, shall indeed come to Jesus Christ, he will in no wise cast him out.

For the clearing of this doctrine, three things may be enquired into,

1. Who are comers to Christ.

2. What is implied in this expression, that Christ will in no wise cast him out that [illegible] to him.

3. How it does appear that Christ will in no wise do so.

Quest. 1. Who are comers to Christ [illegible] what is meant by coming to him?

Answ. The comer to Christ is the same [illegible] the believer. In the thirty-fifth verse of the chapter, Christ says he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. So in ver. 44, 45, 65, believing on Christ, is called a coming to him. There are various metaphors whereby faith is set forth in the Scripture: there is the eye of faith, hence believing is called a looking on Christ (Zechariah 12:10). There is the ear of faith, so believing is called hearing; hear and your souls shall live. There is the mouth of faith, thus believing is expressed by that of eating Christ (John 6:57). He that eateth me shall live by me. There is the hand of faith, from there believing is said to be a receiving of Christ (John 1:12). And there is the foot of faith, from there believing on Christ is said to be a going to him and coming to him: as unbelief is expressed by that of not coming to him (John 5:40). You will not come to me that you might have life, that is, you will not believe. And unbelief is said to be a departing from the Lord (Hebrews 3:12), so faith is coming to him; not a mere bodily coming to Christ, for so these Capernaites and many others came to him, who had no true faith; but a coming [illegible] him with the soul. The Gospel calls upon men to forsake all for Christ, he whose heart and soul does obey that call is a true believer. Particularly,

1. The believer cometh to Christ as the most excellent person his soul can desire (1 Peter 2:7). To you that believe he is precious. The Jews followed Christ for his loaves, and not for his person (John 6:26). Notwithstanding the miracles done by Christ, which were enough to convince any one that he is the Son of God; yet they did not believe him to be so, and therefore were not right followers of him, or comers to him. When God brings a man home to Christ, he lets him see that surpassing excellency in his person, as to cause the soul to fall in love with him, and to choose Christ rather than any other person (Canticles 5:9, 10, 16). What is your beloved more than another's beloved? My beloved is the chiefest among ten thousand, yea he is altogether lovely. This is the language of the real comer to Christ. The believing soul seeth Christ to be a lovely Christ indeed, and therefore cometh to him as being enamoured with him (John 6:40). He that seeth the Son and believeth on him. Men must see a beauty and excellency in the Son of God, or they will not believe on him.

2. The believer cometh to Christ for salvation. He sees that Christ is in himself lovely; and from that consideration goes to Him. Moreover, he sees all that life and salvation in Christ which his soul stands in need of, and therefore cometh to Him. It is true (as was intimated) that in closing with Christ, respect is to be had to His Person, and not to His benefits only. Nevertheless a man in coming to Christ may and should have respect to his own salvation. It is a very needless scruple which some have concerning their coming to Christ, as if it were not right, because desire of salvation puts them upon it; so it may be, and so it should be. Christ Himself calls upon men from that very consideration to come to Him. John 7:37: If any man thirst let him come to me. A man may and should come to Christ that so he may drink, that he may from and by Christ receive the waters of life for his soul. The believer cometh to Christ as to a Priest, who has by the sacrifice of himself purchased life for every comer to him. He looks for reconciliation with God only by the sacrifice which Christ has offered for that end: He casts his soul and all the eternal concerns thereof, upon the merit and mediation of Jesus Christ. He looks for all acceptance with God, for the pardon of all sins, for eternal life in another world, for the alone sake of Christ and His righteousness; thus does he come to Him.

3. The believer cometh to Christ to be instructed by Him. To this the words of my text have a peculiar respect. He that cometh to me (says Christ) — that is, he that cometh to me to be my scholar, my disciple, as long as he is really willing to learn of me, I will not turn him out of doors. When the woman of Samaria acquainted the citizens that she had met with one who told her all things that ever she did, they went out of the city and came to Him. Thus it is with the believer; he has heard report of Christ's being the great Prophet of God, and therefore he cometh to Him for instruction: he believes that Christ knows the mind of God fully, and he is willing that Christ should reveal to him whatever God would have him to believe or to practise in order to salvation. His soul thirsts after the wholesome waters of truth, and he comes to Christ that he may receive thereof (Isaiah 55:1). This then is implied in coming to Christ, even a closing with Him in respect of His prophetical office, a being subject to the teachings of His Word and Spirit.

4. A believer cometh to Christ to be ruled by him. Many are ready to declare their willingness to have Christ to be their Savior, who have no mind to have Him to be their Ruler; they do not desire to be under the strict and holy government of Christ, whereas true faith implies a closing with Christ in respect of his kingly office. Hence it is expressed by way of receiving Christ Jesus the Lord (Colossians 2:6). He that cometh to Christ with an unfeigned desire to be His servant, and a resolution to comply with all His holy commands, is such a comer to Him as He will in no wise cast out (Luke 6:46). Whoever cometh to me, and hears my sayings and does them. Hence believers are styled the servants of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:22; Galatians 1:10). There is a covenant between Christ and them, as there is a covenant between master and servant. Believers are under a promise, yes, an oath of fidelity to Christ, to be His, and His only, and His forever.

We proceed therefore to the second inquiry, namely:

Quest. 2. What is implied in this expression, that Christ will in no wise cast him out that comes to Him?

Answ. There is more implied than is plainly expressed in these words. Though the expression is negative, yet positive good is contained therein. In general when it is said I will in no wise cast him out, the meaning is, I will give him all the kind entertainment which his soul can desire. He shall have all the good which a disciple of Christ can expect.

More particularly,

1. He that comes to Christ, the Lord Jesus will reconcile him to God. He undertakes for any man, for every man that shall come to Him, to make his peace with God. Suppose a sinner to have been guilty of never so many crimes and provocations, if he cometh to Christ, He will bring him into God's favor. For He has by his death made atonement for sins, and obtained reconciliation for sinners; and whoever cometh to Him, has an interest in all the mercy purchased by His death. And Christ by his intercession does commend the comer to Him, to the favor of God. He says before God the Father, This sinner is one of them that I died for, and therefore do You for my sake forgive all his sins, and be reconciled to his soul.

2. If men come to Christ, He will accept them under His instruction. He will not refuse to admit them into His school, He will in no wise shut the doors of His house against them in that respect. Therefore He says, Come to me and learn (Matthew 11:28, 29). They that come to Him, He will teach them. Christ speaks by David, saying, come to me, you children, and I will teach you the fear of the Lord (Psalm 34:11). It is a blessed thing to be received into Christ's school, to become the disciple of such a master, the scholar of such a teacher; yet this blessedness belongs to every one that cometh to Christ. Hence Wisdom speaks as (Proverbs 8:32): Hearken to me O you children, for blessed are they that keep my ways, hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not, blessed is the man that bears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. They that come to Christ with a sincere desire to be instructed by Him, He will teach them all things which are needful for them to know in order to life and salvation (1 John 2:20).

3. If men come to Christ, He will take them under His protection. They that have a true desire to be His subjects, and to have their souls secured under the wings of His power, it shall be so. He will gather them under His wings (Matthew 23:37). He will defend them against the birds of prey which seek to devour their souls. When once a man is in the [illegible] of Christ, his soul is safe for ever; [illegible] Satan, Earth, Hell, do the worst they [illegible]. Hence believers are said to be preserved in Christ Jesus (Jude 1). As the children of Israel having the blood of the Paschal Lamb sprinkled over their doors, were preserved, when the destroying Angel killed the Egyptians; so they that are in Christ, are in Him preserved from eternal destruction. Christ is a protector to them that resort to Him. When Abiathar came to David, he said to him, Abide you with me, fear not, with me you shall be in safeguard (1 Samuel 22:23). They that fled to David were safe from the fury of Saul; so they that come to Christ, are safe from the rage of Satan, who does persecute their souls.

4. They that come to Christ, He will never cast them out of his favor, but bring them safe to Heaven at last. Hence Christ does not only say, I will not cast him out that comes to me, but I will in no wise do it. In the Greek there are 2 negatives, Cast him out that comes to me? (says Christ) no, I will never do it. Therefore He says of his sheep which hear his voice, and follow him, I will give to them eternal life, and they shall never perish (John 10:28). Nothing can ever alienate his mind and heart from them; though he sees a great deal of weakness and frowardness in them, yet as long as they have a heart to cleave to him he will never reject them. John 13:1, Jesus having loved his own in the world, He loved them to the end. He has made an everlasting Covenant with the comer to him (Isaiah 55:3). And therefore he will in no wise shut the door of Heaven against any such. If a man come to him, He will never cast him out of Paradise. To him that overcomes all temptations and objections against coming to Christ, to him will he give to eat of the tree of Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

Quest. 3. But how does it appear that Christ will in no wise cast him out that comes to him?

Answ. 1. If Christ should cast any out that come to him, he should act contrary to the will of his Father, which he never did, and we may be sure he never will do. If a man comes to Christ, it is the Father that draws him (John 6:44). No man can come to me except the Father which has sent me draw him. Now if when a soul comes to Christ, he should be rejected by him, the Father would draw one way and Christ draw another way, which cannot be. Christ speaking to God the Father, says, You and I, we are one (John 17:22). The Father, and Christ as Mediator are one in respect of will and design; they both will and design the same thing. Therefore Christ himself does by this argument prove that he will not cast him out that comes to him. Therefore in the next words he says, For I came down from Heaven not to do mine own [illegible], but the will of him that sent me; and this is the Father's will which has [illegible] me, that of all which he has given me, I should lose nothing. If Christ came into the world to do the will of God, and this be the will of God, that he should not lose so much as one of them that are given to him; we may conclude, that no comer to him, shall be rejected by him.

2. The grace of the Lord Jesus, the goodness of his nature is such, as that he will in no wise cast out them that come to him. He is of a most gracious disposition, and therefore ready to accept of returning sinners (Joel 2:13). Turn you to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful. Hence if the greatest sinners in the world should come to the Lord Jesus with a heart really desirous to be his disciples, he will not cast them out. Paul before his conversion had been a blasphemer and a persecutor of Christ and his Church, and very injurious both to God and man, yet when he was brought to submit himself to Christ, and to say, Lord what will you have me to do, the Lord would in no wise cast him out. Why? The grace of our Lord (that is, of our Lord Jesus Christ) was exceeding abundant (1 Timothy 1:13-14). There is grace and abundant grace, yes exceeding abundant grace in the Lord Jesus. Therefore if any man come to him, he will in no wise cast him out.

3. Christ did never yet cast out any that came to Him. We read of many in the Gospel that came to Christ for help and healing as to their bodies, but we do not read of so much as one whom he would not have compassion on. Indeed he made as if he would have rejected the Woman of Canaan when she came to him, but he never intended it, only was willing to try her faith: and why was this? But to let us know that if men come to Christ with their souls, they shall surely find acceptance with him. Many have come to Christ, yes, many thousands but he never rejected any one of them. Though some of them which came to Christ, were such as one would have thought he would never have given entertainment to, having been the vilest wretches in the world; yet when they came to Christ with a true desire to be his disciples, he never did reject so much as one of them; therefore we may conclude he never will do so.

4. Christ died for those that shall come to him. Therefore he will in no wise cast them out. If God has given to a man a heart to come to Christ, he may be sure that Christ has died for him (John 12:32). And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to me. If a soul be drawn to Christ, 'tis certain that Christ was lifted up on the Cross, there to bleed and die for the salvation of that very soul. And if Christ has loved him, so as to die for him, he will never cast him out. Sinners may look upon Christ dying on the Cross, and see him with his arms open, ready to embrace them.

5. Christ does invite and call upon sinners to come to him. If a man does invite another to come to his house, will he thrust him out of doors when he does come? And shall we then think that the blessed Lord Jesus will do so? When he was on the earth, he did personally invite sinners to come to him. See a glorious Scripture for this (John 7:37): In the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, if any man thirst, let him come to me and drink. If any man (says Christ) be he who he will, if any man desires the waters of life for his soul, let him come to me he shall be welcome. Christ was willing that all should know this; therefore he went into the Temple to proclaim it, and that on the feast, and on the last day of the feast, when there was the greatest concourse of people, and he stood that he might be seen of all, and cried, that he might be heard of all, Come to me, says Christ, any man that has a thirst, a desire after salvation. And now Christ is gone to Heaven he calls from that Temple, and bids sinners come to him (Hebrews 25): See that you refuse not him that speaks, for if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaks from Heaven. He invites and calls sinners to come to him by his written Word, the holy Scriptures which are the Word of Christ. Therein he says, Look to me and be you saved, all you ends of the earth (Isaiah 45:22). The Scriptures are a gracious letter which Christ has sent from heaven, inviting who will, to come to him, and be saved by him. And he concludes the letter with a most sweet and blessed invitation to come to the waters of life (Revelation 22:17). Christ also does still continue to invite sinners to come to him, by his messengers whom he sends to preach the Gospel in his name. Wisdom has sent forth her maidens, she cries upon the highest places of the city, whoever is simple let him turn in here, come eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled (Proverbs 9:3, 4, 5). Who are we to understand by the maidens of Wisdom, but the ministers of Christ; who are likewise called the Bridegroom's Friends (John 3:29), in that their great work is to woo and win souls for Christ, and they rejoice in nothing more, than when they can persuade men to forsake their sins, and come to Jesus Christ for salvation. But the strength of this argument will appear further, if we consider the properties of this invitation, whereby the Lord Jesus does call upon sinners to come to him.

1. It is a real, earnest invitation. Christ's heart is in it. Hence he is troubled and grieved at the heart when sinners will not come to him. When he had often invited the Jews to come under his wing and they would not, he wept over them, saying to Jerusalem, O that you had known in this your day the things that belong to your peace. He does most affectionately call upon sinners to come to him (John 7:37): He cried and said come to me. A loud cry argues earnestness. Christ is marvelously importunate in his urging sinners to come to him. He is not willing to be put off, or to take denial. See else (Isaiah 55:1, 2): — Come you to the waters, — come you, — yes come. Hearken diligently to me, incline your ear, and come to me. (Mind how earnest the Lord is in his invitation, Come, come, yes come, come to me) Yes hear, hearken diligently, that is, by all means hearken to me, if ever you would hear good counsel hear it now. That men may see Christ is in earnest with them, he sets before them the most alluring promises of the Gospel, he tells them, they shall have all the good their souls can desire, if they will but come to him: and denounces more dreadful threatenings than ever were thundered upon mount Ebal, against those that shall neglect so great salvation.

It is an often renewed and long continued invitation (Matthew 22:37): — how often would I have gathered you under my wings! Where is the sinner that lives under the Gospel, that can say how often he has been invited to come to Jesus Christ! Behold he stands at the door and knocks (Revelation 3:2). He does not give one knock at a sinner's heart, and away, but he stands there; and knocks again, and calls again. He knocks at a sinner's heart by mercies, by afflictions, by sermons, and by manifold dispensations. There are some sinners that Christ continues inviting of them, all their days. He stretches out his hand, that is, he beckons to them that they should come to him all the day long (Isaiah 65:1). As long as the day of grace lasts, so long does Christ continue calling the sinner to come to him, now there are some that the day of grace lasts as long as life in this world (though it is not so with all) continues.

3. Where the Gospel comes, this invitation is universal (Isaiah 55:1): Ho (see what a gracious proclamation is here) every one that thirsts, come to the waters! So that the Gospel contains a general proclamation of mercy to all comers; Christ excludes none that will come. If men do not by their impenitence and unbelief shut the door against their own souls, Christ shuts the door against none; but says to every one, come to me and welcome (Revelation 22:17). The call of Christ reaches every particular soul. Yes, you in particular as truly as if he should from Heaven call you by name, as he did Saul. If Christ should call from Heaven and say, you, John such a one, or you Mary such a one, why do you not come to me, to be saved? Would you not do as he did, fall down trembling, and say Lord, what will you have me to do? Why, the call of Christ in the Gospel is no less than this comes to.

USE. Let sinners be exhorted to come to Jesus Christ without any further delay.

To awaken hereunto.

Consid. 1. That this is a matter of infinite concernment. What are all your worldly concernments which your heart [illegible] taken up with, to this which I am now speaking of? For what is a man profited if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul (Matthew 16:26)? You will lose your soul for ever if you do not come to Christ. All other things which you can do are nothing without THIS. What is your praying, hearing, sabbath-keeping, without this? They are indeed good things and necessary to be attended, but without Christ they will never save you. So that in truth all the everlasting concernments of your immortal soul depend upon this one thing, of your coming or not coming to Jesus Christ. Remember that Scripture (Luke 10:42): There is one thing needful. Care about an interest in Christ is the one thing needful: he that makes sure of that one thing will be a happy man for ever; but he that shall continue to neglect that one thing (be he high or low, rich or poor) he will be a damned creature to all eternity. So that there is nothing of greater nor of so great concernment as this one thing.

Consider. 2. The great evil that is in not coming to Jesus Christ. This is the great damning sin of unbelief, concerning which the Scripture speaks so dreadfully. By that unbelief which the Scripture speaks of as a damning sin, is not meant a man's doubting whether Christ died for him, or whether his sins are pardoned, many a believer has such doubtings, and some hypocrites have deluding confidences, they are persuaded if any in the world be saved they shall. But by unbelief is meant, the not coming to Christ when called, when invited. This is a most heinous sin. Christ says the Spirit shall convince the world of sin because they believe not on me (John 16:9), that is, he shall convince them that they have been guilty of grievous sin in not believing. Whoever you are, this is the greatest sin that ever you were guilty of in all your life. Sins against the Gospel have more of evil in them, than sins against the law only. It may be some of you have been guilty of great sins: guilty perhaps of drunkenness, sabbath-breaking, disobedience to parents, theft, lying, these are fearful sins indeed. But you have been guilty of another sin worse than all these, that is, unbelief. This is the most God-provoking sin in the world. As nothing pleases him so much as faith, so nothing provokes him like unbelief. If a man would be so wicked as to sit down and study how he might grieve and vex the soul of God, he could not do it more than by unbelief. The unbelief of the children of Israel provoked God to swear in his wrath against them, that they should never enter into his rest (Hebrews 3:18, 19). To despise a great gift is highly provoking: now Christ is the greatest gift (John 4:10). He is the gift of God. God could not make a greater offer, or bestow a better gift than that. Now the unbeliever slights, and makes light of this offer. The precious blood of Christ has been offered to you in the Gospel, to wash your soul, and to purge away your sins, but by unbelief you despise it, as though it were nothing worth. Men think the sin of the Jews, in crucifying the Son of God was exceeding great, and so it was: but you an unbeliever are guilty of that sin. As it was said to Jerusalem, you have justified your sister Samaria (Ezekiel 16:51); thus your unbelief is a practical justification of the Jews in their crucifying Christ. So that indeed there is blasphemy in this sin. What greater blasphemy than to say, the Jews did well to crucify Christ? And you by continuing in your unbelief do say no less. And in another respect there is blasphemy in this sin, for it gives the lie to the blessed and holy God (1 John 5:10). He that believes not God has made him a liar because he believes not the record that God gave of his Son. God said from heaven concerning Jesus Christ, This is my Son, but the unbeliever says that is not true. By his unbelief he practically declares that Christ is not the Son of God. O what a horrid thing is this! And therefore it will bring the sorest judgment upon all that shall die under the guilt of it. It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for such sinners as have refused to come to Christ (Matthew 10:15). O think sadly of this. If any man or woman in this congregation, who have had Christ offered them in the Gospel, shall die in their sins, it will in the day of judgment be more tolerable for Sodom than for that man, than for that woman. Know also that unbelievers will be of all sinners the most inexcusable when they shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ at the great day (John 15:22). If I had not come and spoken to them, they had not had sin (that is, they had no sin in comparison of what is now upon them) but now they have no cloak for their sin. They have no excuse to make: they might have been saved but would not. O sinners! you have had miracles to make you believe, you do see it in the Gospel, and yet will you not believe? Will you not come to Christ? O think what you will say to Christ for excuse of your not coming to him, when he did so graciously invite you. If you continue in your sins and unbelief, he will say to you as David did to the Amalekite condemned by him (2 Samuel 1:16), Your blood be upon your head. When the Lord Jesus shall sit upon the [illegible] of his glory and call you before him, and say, Did not such a minister of mine preach to you, that if you would believe on Christ you should be saved, but if not you should be damned, and your heart shall answer, Lord, he did tell me so, then will the Lord Jesus say, The blood of your soul be upon your own head, I and my throne will be guiltless for ever, but your blood shall be upon your own head.

Consider 3. They that will not come to Christ now when they may, shall not come to him another day though they would. O that men who live under the Gospel would remember and lay to heart, what the Lord Jesus has spoken (Proverbs 1:24), "Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded, but you have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof; I will also laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh, when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind: when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer, they shall seek me early but they shall not find me." Now sinner, you are fairly offered, but you shall not always have Christ preached to you, nor his Spirit to strive with you always. Now he opens the doors of his house and bids you come in; but hereafter the doors of his house will be shut, and then sinners will cry to him, Lord, Lord open to us; but he will say, you come too late now, you cry too late: had you come and cried thus sooner, you might have come in; but now away with you, none of you that were invited, but slighted the calls of the Gospel shall taste of my supper (Luke 13:29). At the day of judgment those two words, Come, and Go, shall divide all the world. As for such as did come to Christ by faith while they were in this world, Christ will say to them at the last day, Come you blessed, come, and be with me in heaven for ever; but as for them that did not come to Christ while they were living on the earth, he will say to them, go, depart from me, out of my sight for ever, go and suffer with that Devil whom you chose to serve, rather than to obey the Gospel and to become the servants of Jesus Christ.

O let the consideration of such things as these are, awaken and persuade sinners to [illegible] to Christ. But it may be there are some discouraged souls, that have secret objections in their hearts, which make them afraid to come to Christ. Let's hear what they [illegible], for I would fain prevail with souls to [illegible] to Jesus Christ; and the Lord grant [illegible] much success therein. O let nothing [illegible] you. I am sure no soul among you has sufficient reason to be discouraged from coming to the Lord Jesus.

But 1st, one objects, I am a poor unworthy creature, and should I come to Christ?

Answer. Christ never rejected any that came to him for their unworthiness. No, he bids them come to him (Revelation 3:17, 18): "You are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy of me gold that you may be rich." Especially if poor creatures be sensible of their own unworthiness, then Christ invites them to come to him (Matthew 11:28): "Come to me all you that are weary and heavy laden." As for such as are burdened with the sense of sin and guiltiness and misery, that sin lies as a heavy burden upon their souls, to them Christ says, Come to me. He offers himself and all his benefits upon free cost (Revelation 22:17): "Let him that is athirst come, and whoever will, let him come and take the water of life freely." Christ will not sell his blood, but he will give it freely. What though you are as poor as a beggar, yet come to Christ, and [illegible] make you exceeding rich and glorious. Therefore he says, Come, without money [illegible] without price (Isaiah 55:1). Some that have [illegible] money, yet they have a price, that is, something instead of money, but he that has neither is a poor man indeed. Though you are thus poor as to have neither money nor money's worth, yet come to Christ. What manner of persons were those that came to David, and were kindly entertained by him? It is said every one that was in distress, and that was in debt, gathered themselves to him, and he became a captain over them (1 Samuel 22:2). So are you in debt, and are you in distress of soul; then go to David, go to Christ, go poor, a beggar, and hard bested, and he'll receive you and pay all your debts for you too, and make you rich besides. O who would not go to Jesus Christ.

Object 2. Another says, you don't know what a sinner I have been; I am a great sinner, and an old sinner, an old swearer, and old in adulteries; and shall I dare to come to the holy Son of God, would you have such a one as I to go to Christ?

Answ. Yes, you have so much the more need to come to Christ. If a man should say, I am very sick, and therefore I am afraid to go to the Physician, what a strange saying were that! It is just so when any one shall say I have been a grievous sinner, therefore I am [illegible] to go to Jesus Christ. He, and He [illegible] can recover your guilty dying soul. If you [illegible] indeed go to him with a desire to be his servant, he'll accept of you, notwithstanding your many and great sins; such is his gracious nature as that he will forgive all the wrongs you have done to him. Though you have despised him, though you have killed him by your sins, yet he will accept of you. Remember how Joseph received his brethren when they came to him humbly confessing the wrong they had done him, and begging for pardon, he comforted them and spoke kindly to them (Genesis 50:4). So will Christ do much more; for he came into the world to save the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Who did the Lord Jesus first appear to after his Resurrection? Was it not to Mary Magdalen, out of whom he cast seven devils, and more devils out of her soul than out of her body? As great sinners as you have been, when they have come to Christ, he would in no wise cast them out. What think you of the woman of Samaria who had lived in adultery, but when she came to Christ with a penitent heart he gave her living water. What do you think of the woman spoken of (Luke 7:37), which was a sinner, that is, a notorious, infamous sinner, whose name rung in town and country for her wickedness, yet when she came to Christ, and washed his feet [illegible] her tears, her sins which were many were forgiven. And what say you to the Corinthians, who had, some of them, been thieves, drunkards, effeminate, adulterers, sodomites, (horrid sins) but they were washed and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10, 11). Is not murder a crying sin? But to murder the Son of God is a crime beyond parallel: yet those very men that embrued their hands in the blood of Christ, when they came humbly to him for mercy, believing on him whom they had crucified, he received them and obtained their peace with God. If you do come to him, he'll wash your soul in his blood. That soul of yours, which sin has made as black as Hell, if washed in the blood of Christ, shall be made as white as snow. Psalm 51:7: Purge me with hyssop (that is, with the blood of Christ, signified by the blood sprinkled with hyssop) and I shall be whiter than the snow. O come to Christ, and he'll sprinkle his blood upon you, as he speaks (Proverbs 1:23): Turn you at my reproof, behold I will pour out my spirit to you. So he says turn to me, and I will pour out my blood upon you. The Lord Jesus Christ never did reject any that came to him, merely because their sins are many and great; therefore he will not reject you.

Object. 3. Another objects, I am afraid that I have committed the sin against the Holy Ghost, and therefore it will be in vain for me to go to Christ.

Ans. The reason why they that commit that sin perish, is not because Christ is not able to save them, or that there is not merit enough in the blood of Christ to obtain forgiveness for so great a sin as that is, but because they have not a heart to come to Christ. The unpardonable sin is always attended with final impenitency, and everlasting hardness of heart. And this objection is a mere temptation of Satan, who seeks thereby to discourage souls from coming to Christ, he uses to tell those who never did nor ever shall commit the great transgression, they have been guilty of it. Tell me, have you any desire to come to Christ? Do you prize his blood? Then 'tis certain you never was guilty of the unpardonable sin, for such trample under foot the Son of God, and count his blood an unholy thing (Hebrews 10:24). Are you a malicious persecutor of the ways and people of God? If not, I dare pronounce to you, that you were never guilty of the sin against the Holy Ghost; for there never was any man guilty of that sin, but that he was given up to a spirit of persecution; he is filled with rage against the servants of God, because they fear his name, and dare not sin against him. Yet again, did you ever maliciously blaspheme or speak evil of that which you know was the work of God's Spirit? If you have not done despite to the Spirit of Grace, you have not committed the sin against the Holy Ghost. I must confess it is to be feared, that many of the malignant adversaries of the truth in these late days, have been judicially given up by God to commit that sin; yet I will say, I am persuaded there is not one soul in this congregation this day that ever was guilty of it. O yet let not this, nor any other objection discourage any one among you from coming to Christ.

For direction here.

1. See your absolute need of Christ. Without this no one will come to him. For men are naturally averse to nothing so much as to this, so that they will not come to Christ, except sense of extreme necessity compel them to it. Will a man that thinks himself well, run to a Physician for help? The whole have no need of a Physician but the sick (Matthew 9:12). But if men see their absolute need of Christ, then they'll be willing to go to him. When the sons of Jacob saw themselves like to perish by the famine, they would go to Joseph for bread, that they might live and not die. An Israelite when he saw the avenger of blood pursuing of him, was made willing to betake himself to the city of refuge. Behold sinner, the avenger of blood is at your heels! If you do not make haste to the city of refuge, he'll overtake you and slay your soul. Know that without Christ, you have a soul within you that must perish to eternity. If you had been guilty but of one sin in all your life, you must lie and die for ever under the wrath of God, if Christ save you not. But what will you do then having been guilty of so many and great sins? You cannot save yourself — all your own righteousness, all your prayers, sorrows, tears, if you could weep seas of blood cannot save you. No, heaven and earth cannot save you without Christ. None but Christ can deliver from the wrath to come.

Beware of those things which will keep you from closing with the Lord Jesus Christ. Inordinate affection to the world, keeps many a man from coming to Christ: so it was with the young man in the Gospel, his heart was so set upon the world that he neglected to close with Jesus Christ. Thus in the parable they were bidden to the wedding of the King's son but would not come; what hindered them? Matthew 23:5, they went their way one to his farm and another to his merchandise. Again, love to some sin, keeps men from [illegible] with Christ. John 5:44, how can you believe, which receive honor one of another? If a man has a lust of pride which he loves, a lust of drunkenness, a lust of uncleanness, or any other lust which he loves so as not to be willing to part with it for Christ, how can he believe? And evil companions keep many a soul from going to Christ. The Scripture therefore says, Forsake the foolish and live (Proverbs 9:6). And again, Arise from the dead, (that is, come away from your dead companions in sin,) and Christ shall give you light (Ephesians 5:14). Why do not young men come to Christ, when the Gospel calls them? Alas, some of them have thoughts about it, but this or that vain companion hinders them. As ever you do desire an interest in Christ, or salvation by him, you must break off your companionship with those vain persons that will prove the ruin of your soul.

When your heart is made willing to part with all for Christ, venture your soul upon him. Let this Scripture, him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out, encourage you. Many of the elect of God have at their first conversion been much encouraged by it. Cast yourself and soul into the arms of the Son of God. Venture all your everlasting concerns upon the Lord Jesus. Remember how it was with the leprous men whom we read of (2 Kings 7:4). They said one to another, why sit we here until we die, if we sit still here we die; and therefore come, let us fall to the host of the Syrians, if they save us alive we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die. So think with yourself, if I sit still and keep at a distance from Christ, I shall certainly die; if I go to him, I shall but die, and it may be I shall live, therefore I'll venture and go to Christ. Resolve as Esther did, If I perish I perish (said she) yet I'll go into the King's presence. So say you, I'll go to the Son of God, and if I perish, I'll perish lying at his feet: no, then you shall never perish.

Be often coming to Jesus Christ. Is not your heart dead? Go to Christ to quicken it. Is not your spirit too often out of frame? Go to Christ to help it. There are many that complain, they know not whether they have true faith or not; the best way in the world to put it out of question, is to go to Christ again, and give yourself up to him. By often believing, a Christian shall feel in his heart that he does believe. By often coming to Christ, and rolling yourself upon him, you will see yourself in the arms of the Son of God for ever.

O then come to him, and he will in no wise cast you out.