As who should say, they are now in captivity, and little in their own eyes; therefore, they think the mercy of returning to Canaan is a mercy too marvelously big for them to enjoy; but if it is so in their eyes, it is not so in mine; I will do for them like God if they will but receive my bounty like sinners. Coming sinner, God can give his heavenly Canaan, and the glory of it, unto you; yes, none ever had them but as a gift, a free gift. He has given us his Son, “How shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Rom 8:32).
It was not the worthiness of Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, or Paul, but the mercy of God, that made them inheritors of heaven. If God thinks you worthy, judge not yourself unworthy; but take it, and be thankful. And it is a good sign he intends to give you if he has drawn out your heart to ask. “Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble; thou wilt prepare their heart; thou wilt cause thine ear to hear” (Psa 10:17).
When God is said to incline his ear, it implies an intention to bestow the mercy desired. Take it therefore; thy wisdom will be to receive, not stick at thy own unworthiness. It is said, “He raised up the poor out of the dust, and lifted up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory.” Again, “He raised up the poor out of the dust, and lifted the needy out of the dunghill, that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people” (1 Sam 2:8; Psa 113:7, 8). You see also when God made a wedding for his Son, he called not the great, rich, or mighty; but the poor, maimed, halt, and blind (Matt 12; Luke 14).
Fifth. Your fears that Christ will not receive you may arise from the hideous roaring of the devil, who pursues you. He who hears him roar must be a mighty Christian if he can deliver himself from fear at that time. He is called a roaring lion; and then to allude to that in Isaiah, “If one looks” into them, they have “darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof” (1 Peter 5:8; Isa 5:3).
[Two of the devil’s objections.]—There are two things among many that Satan used to roar out after them that are coming to Jesus Christ. 1. That they are not elected. Or, 2. That they have sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost. To both these I answer briefly—
1. [Election.]—Touching election, out of which thou fairest thou art excluded. Why, coming sinner, even the text itself afforded thee help against this doubt, and that by a double argument.
(1.) That coming to Christ is by the gift, promise, and drawing of the Father; but thou art a-coming; therefore God hath given thee, promised thee, and is drawing thee to Jesus Christ. Coming sinner, hold to this; and when Satan begins to roar again, answer, But I feel my heart moving after Jesus Christ; but that would not be if it were not given by promise, and drawing to Christ by the power of the Father.
(2.) Jesus Christ hath promised, “That him that cometh to him he will in no wise cast out.” And if he hath said it, will he not make it good, I mean even thy salvation? For, as I have said already, not to cast out, is to receive and admit to the benefit of salvation. If then the Father hath given thee, as is manifest by thy coming; and if Christ will receive thee, thou coming soul, as it is plain he will because he hath said, “He will in no wise cast out;” then be confident, and let those conclusions, that as naturally flow from the text as light from the sun, or water from the fountain, stay thee.
If Satan therefore objected, But thou art not elected; answer, But I am coming, Satan, I am coming; and that I could not be, but that the Father draws me; and I am coming to such a Lord Jesus, as will in no wise cast me out. Further, Satan, were I not elect, the Father would not draw me, nor would the Son so graciously open his bosom to me. I am persuaded, that not one of the non-elect shall ever be able to say, no, not in the day of judgment, I did sincerely come to Jesus Christ. Come they may, feignedly, as Judas and Simon Magus did; but that is not our question. Therefore, O thou honest-hearted coming sinner, be not afraid, but come.
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