1. In Peter. Peter denied his master, once, twice, and three times, and that with an open oath; yet Christ receives him again without the least hesitation or stick. Yea, he slips, stumbles, falls again, in downright dissimulation, and that to the hurt and fall of many others; but neither of this doth Christ make a bar to his salvation, but receives him again at his return, as if he knew nothing of the fault (Gal 2).
2. The rest of the disciples, even all of them, did backslide and leave the Lord Jesus in his greatest straits. “Then all the disciples forsook him and fled,” (Matt 26:56), they returned, as he had foretold, everyone to his own, and left him alone; but this also he passes over as a very light matter. Not that it was so indeed in itself, but the abundance of grace that was in him did lightly roll it away; for after his resurrection, when first he appeared unto them, he gave them not the least check for their perfidious dealings with him, but saluted them with words of grace, saying, “All hail! Be not afraid, peace be to you; all power in heaven and earth is given unto me.” True, he rebuked them for their unbelief, for which you also deserve the same. For it is unbelief that alone Christ and his benefits come to us (John 16:52; Matt 28:9–11; Luke 24:39; Mark 16:14).
3. The man who, after a large profession lay with his father’s wife, committed a high transgression, even one that, at that day, was not heard of—no, not among the Gentiles. Therefore, this was a desperate backsliding; yet, at his return, he was received and accepted again to mercy (1 Cor 5:1, 2; 2 Cor 2:6–8).
4. The thief that stole was bid to steal no more; not at all doubting but knowing that Christ was ready to forgive him for this act of backsliding (Eph 4:28). Now all these are examples, particular instances of Christ’s readiness to receive the backsliders to mercy; and, observe it, examples and proofs that he hath done so are, to our unbelieving hearts, stronger encouragements than bare promises that so he will do.
But again, the Lord Jesus has added to these, the encouragement of returning backsliders, to come to him. (1.) A call to come, and he will receive them (Rev 2:1-5; 14-16; 20-22; 3:1-3; 15-22). Therefore, New Testament backsliders have encouragement to come. (2.) A declaration of readiness to receive them that come, as in the text and many other places, is plain. Therefore, “Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps,” of the golden grace of the gospel, “set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou went.” When thou didst backslide; “turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities” (Jer 31:21).
“And him that cometh.” He saith not, and it was him that talked, professed, that made a show, made a noise, or the like; but, him that came. Christ will take leave to judge, who, among the many that make a noise, is indeed coming to him. It is not him that saith he comes, nor him of whom others affirm that he comes; but him that Christ himself shall say doth come, that is concerned in this text. When the woman who had the bloody issue came to him for a cure, there were others as well, as she, who made a great fuss about him, touched him, and yes, thronged him. Ah, but Christ could distinguish this woman from them all; “And he looked round about” upon them all, “to see her that had done this thing” (Mark 5:25–32). He was not concerned with the thronging, or touching of the rest; for theirs were but accidental, or at best, void of that which made her touch acceptable. Wherefore Christ must be the judge of who they are that in truth are coming to him; Every man’s ways are right in his own eyes, “but the Lord weighs the spirits” (Prov 16:2). It stands therefore for everyone in hand to be certain of their coming to Jesus Christ; for as thy coming is, so shall thy salvation be. If thou come indeed, thy salvation shall be true; but if thou come but in outward appearance, so shall thy salvation be; but of coming, see before, as also afterward, in the use and application.
“And him that cometh TO ME.” These words to me are also well to be heeded; for by them, as he secured those that come to him, so also he shows himself unconcerned with those that in their coming rest short, to turn aside to others; for you must know, that everyone that comes, comes not to Jesus Christ; some that come, come to Moses, and to his law, and there take up for life; with these Christ is not concerned; with these, his promise hath not to do. “Christ becomes of no effect unto you; whosoever of you are justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace” (Gal 5:4). Again, some that came, came no further than to gospel ordinances, and their stay; they came not through them to Christ; with these, neither is he concerned; nor will their “Lord, Lord,” avail them anything in the great and dismal day. A man may come to, and also go from the place and ordinances of worship, and yet not be remembered by Christ. “So I saw the wicked buried,” said Solomon, “who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done; this is also vanity” (Eccl 8:10).
“TO ME.” These words, therefore, are by Jesus Christ very carefully put in, and serve for caution and encouragement; for caution, lest we take up in our coming anywhere short of Christ; and for encouragement to those that shall in their coming, come past all; till they come to Jesus Christ. “And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
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