Again, how did Satan ply it against Peter, when he desired to have him, that he might sift him as wheat? That is, if possible, sever all grace from his heart, and leave him nothing but flesh and filth, to the end that he might make the Lord Jesus loathe and abhor him. “Simon, Simon,” said Christ, “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.” But did he prevail against him? No: “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” As who should say, Simon, Satan hath desired me that I would give thee up to him, and not only thee but all the rest of thy brethren—for that the word you imports—but I will not leave thee in his hand: I have prayed for thee, thy faith shall not fail; I will secure thee to the heavenly inheritance (Luke 22:30–32).
(2.) As Satan, so every sin of the coming sinner, comes in with a voice against him, if perhaps they may prevail with Christ to cast off the soul. When Israel was coming out of Egypt to Canaan, how many times had their sins thrown them out of the mercy of God, Had not Moses, as a type of Christ, stood in the breach to turn away his wrath from them! (Psa 106:23). Our iniquities testify against us. They would certainly prevail against us, to our utter rejection and damnation, had we not been advocated with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1,2).
The sins of the old world cried them down to hell; the sins of Sodom fetched upon them fire from heaven, which devoured them; the sins of the Egyptians cried them down to hell because they came not to Jesus Christ for life. Coming sinner, thy sins are no whit less than any; perhaps, they are as big as all theirs. Why is it then, that thou lives when they are dead, and that thou hast a promise of pardon when they have not? “Why, thou art coming to Jesus Christ;” and therefore sin shall not be thy ruin.
(3.) As Satan and sin, so the law of Moses, as it is a perfect holy law, hath a voice against you before the face of God. “There is one that accused you, even Moses,” is his law (John 5:45). Yea, it accuses all men of transgression that have sinned against it; for as long as sin is sin, there will be a law to accuse for sin. But this accusation shall not prevail against the coming sinner; Christ died, and ever lived, to make intercession for them that “come to God by him” (Rom 8; Heb 7:25).
These things, I say, do accuse us before Christ Jesus; yes, and also to our own faces, if perhaps they might prevail against us. But these words, “I will in no wise cast out,” secure the coming sinner from them all.
The coming sinner is not saved, because no one comes in against him; but because the Lord Jesus will not hear their accusations and will not cast out the coming sinner. When Shimei comes down to meet King David, and to ask for pardon for his rebellion, he gets up and puts in his caveat, saying, Shall not Shimei die for this? This is his case when it comes to Christ. He has this Abishai, and that Abishai presently steps in against him, saying, Shall not this rebel’s sins destroy him in hell? Read further. But David answered, “What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? Shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel, for do not I know, that I am king this day over Israel?” (2 Sam 19:16–22). That is Christ’s answer in the text, to all that accuse the coming Shimei. What have I to do with you, that accuses the coming sinners of me? I count you adversaries, who are against my showing mercy to them. Do not I know that I am exalted this day to be king of righteousness and king of peace? “I will in no wise cast them out.”
2. But again, these words do closely imply, that the coming souls are afraid that these accusers will prevail against them, as is evident, because the text is spoken for their relief and succor. For that need not be, if those who are coming were not subject to fear and despondency upon this account. Alas, there is guilt, and the curse lies upon the conscience of the coming sinner!
Besides, he is conscious of what a villain, what a wretch he has been against God and Christ. Also, he now knows, by woeful experience, how he has been at Satan’s beck, and at the motion of every lust. He has now also gained new thoughts about the holiness and justice of God. Also, he feels, that he cannot forbear sinning against him. For the motions of sins, which are by the law, doth still work in his members, to bring forth fruit unto death (Rom 7:5). But none of this needs to be discouraged since we have such a good, tender-hearted, and faithful Jesus to come to, who will rather overthrow heaven and earth than suffer a tittle of this text to fail. “And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
